Rude Copper depicts a British police officer, easily identified by his characteristic custodian hat, giving the viewer the middle finger. This poster depicts Banksy's delicate relationship with law enforcement, executed purely in black and white, with the officer's face partially covered by the shadow generated by his helmet. Indeed, the artist's mural work remains illegal and is carried out under a cloak of secret and carefully guarded identity.
Rude Copper obviously has a broader significance for the artist, advising the public to be weary of any sort of organised authority and law enforcement. This image might also be seen as an indication of the general perception of the law's apparent contempt for the poor.